The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

"Uh... Your Highness." Song Shenzhi looked puzzled.

"What is... 'Niu Beer'?"

"Arrogant and self-important, like a cow's bladder that inflates when blown to intimidate others. But inside it's just empty talk." Li Xiang chuckled coldly.

"In other words—they're talking big, trying to intimidate people."

"Oh, Your Highness is a man of unparalleled learning."

Song Shenzhi praised him and wrote with lightning speed.

Zheng Renzhe's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and his carefully maintained composure began to crumble. Zheng Jingzhi, unable to contain himself any longer, revealed his anger:

"You scoundrel! How dare you insult the Zheng family!"

"What's wrong, Brother Zheng? Are you feeling guilty?" Li Xiang retorted provocatively.

"Sharp-tongued and rebellious, he has long been known for his dissenting and unfounded words. I have heard of the Imperial Grandson's name before, but only today have I truly experienced it firsthand."

Zheng Ren stopped Zheng Jingzhi, who was about to step forward to argue, and put on his official demeanor again, retorting to Li Xiang with a sarcastic remark.

When it was his turn, Li Xiang stopped responding.

Turning to Song Shenzhi, he said:

"Be careful, remember this."

"Lord Zheng looks down on us from the bottom of his heart."

Song Shenzhi nodded, his brush moving swiftly and gracefully.

"you……"

The official airs that had just been put on crumbled again. Zheng Ren wanted to speak, but when he looked at Song Shenzhi, who was writing furiously behind Li Xiang, he gritted his teeth and held back.

"What exactly do the Imperial Grandson and Minister Sun want from us?"

He suppressed his anger and carefully chose his words before speaking: "My son Jingzhi has always been strict with the rules of the Imperial Academy and devoted himself to his studies. He is also very respectful in his interactions with others and has never caused trouble outside the academy, let alone engaged in any dirty business such as cheating in the imperial examinations."

"The previous verbal altercation was nothing more than a young man's momentary strife, and it was not a big deal. If both sides had taken a step back, the matter could have been dropped."

Zheng Renze's gaze swept over the group with a deep look: "Now you all bring a whole host of people, carrying paper and pens, to visit us, examining and taking notes everywhere. With such a grand commotion, I wonder what rumors you've heard, or if you're determined to find fault with the Zheng family?"

"If there is solid evidence, then speak it out directly. If there is no evidence, then go to question someone based on mere conjecture and speculation. This would be unfair to the court's laws and regulations, and it would also chill the hearts of the powerful officials in the court."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang smiled faintly, his posture still relaxed and unhurried, and slowly replied:

"The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Master Kong, has already admitted that the selection of scholars for the Imperial Academy was unfair. Since we are determined to investigate this corruption, how can we be sure whether your son is truly innocent?"

"May I ask you, Lord Zheng: Aside from official business, do you usually have any contact with Kong Yingda, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Wang Shidan, the Assistant Minister of Personnel, and other officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites? Are there any marriage alliances or kinship ties between you?"

"How can we ensure that during the imperial examinations, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and the Assistant Minister of Personnel will not show any favoritism or treat you differently because of your son's status?"

"Have you exchanged money or correspondence? Please bring us your correspondence so we can examine them one by one."

"Since your son is truly talented, surely he wouldn't refuse if the court wanted to re-examine him?"...

Li Xiang's small mouth chattered on and on, while Zheng Ren's face grew increasingly grim.

His composure was far inferior to Li Er's, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, he roared in anger:

"Enough! If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason!"

"I've figured it out. The imperial grandson is determined to fabricate charges against my Zheng family! Then don't blame my Zheng family for not treating him with proper courtesy!"

"Why is Lord Zheng so agitated?" Li Xiang maintained his innocent demeanor. He blinked and said, "The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty."

"It was just asking about some things and looking through a few letters, how did that become fabricating charges?"

"Since we have a clear conscience, let's investigate and restore your son's and Zheng's reputation..."

"...Someone, see the guest out!"

Zheng Ren, unable to bear it any longer, ignored Li Xiang, flicked his sleeves, and returned to the backyard.

Zheng Jingzhi followed behind him, turning back to give Li Xiang a venomous look.

-----------------

"Bang!" The vermilion gate slammed shut, and Li Xiang, Sun Fujia, and the others were forced out.

"You brat! You brat! How can you investigate a case like this?" The old Minister of Justice was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at Li Xiang, stomping his feet repeatedly.

"Even if you were to visit someone to collect evidence, you should have planned your actions carefully. But you, with every word you uttered, pressed on and made things difficult, forcing a fifth-rank official in the capital to become so rude as to ask him to leave."

"You have ruined this excellent situation! In that case, even if you are right, we are the ones who are wrong."

"If Zheng Renze were to appeal to His Majesty, in order to appease the Zheng family of Xingyang, His Majesty might even reduce our crimes!"

Ignoring the old Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices who was pounding his chest in frustration, Li Xiang turned to Song Shenzhi and asked, "Have you memorized everything?"

"I've remembered it, Your Highness. Not a single word is wrong."

"Okay, bring me the list, let's see which one to target next..." Li Xiang said.

The list had barely been taken out when Sun Fujia snatched it away, saying, "You brat, do you really intend to take them all down one by one?"

"Speak! What exactly are your plans?!"

Even if he were stupid, he could tell that Li Xiang wasn't really going to investigate the case.

"Nothing can be hidden from the old Minister of the Imperial Academy," Li Xiang said with a smile, patting Sun Fujia on the shoulder. He gave a sly smile and lowered his voice:

"As the old Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices just said, if we provoke Zheng Renze, Zheng Renze may petition His Majesty to seek justice for the Zheng family."

"If only the Zheng family files a lawsuit, that's one thing. But what if a group of powerful families file a lawsuit together, all at once?"

Sun Fujia was taken aback by his words, his pupils shrinking involuntarily. "You mean..."

"...A coup?"

With a change of heart, he said, "Don't underestimate these powerful families. If they become too influential, it will arouse His Majesty's suspicion, and they will certainly not do it."

"These powerful families have been around for a hundred years; they're not so easy to deal with."

"They have no choice but to do it." Li Xiang chuckled and patted the papers that Song Shenzhi had written on.

"Even if they don't go, the emperor will still be wary of them. We are, after all, people sent by the emperor. As long as we present this record of law enforcement to the emperor for review..."

"Look at them, all that bragging and looking down on us. They're not taking our Great Tang Emperor seriously at all!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, their family is so wealthy, I'm envious. I wonder if the emperor is envious?"

"Oh, right, we were kicked out... That's humiliating! Shinji, remember that."

"You..." Sun Fujia was both annoyed and amused.

This is a calculated move.

Even if His Majesty thinks this brat is just fooling around and doesn't take these records to heart.

Once those powerful families recovered from their shock, they realized that this brat had recorded all his words and they would surely worry: if the emperor saw those records, would he become suspicious and wary of them?

But they simply cannot verify it! Even if the emperor himself assured them, would these powerful families truly feel at ease?

The longer a dynasty exists, the more it understands the danger of serving a ruler. This is why powerful clans and imperial power are mutually dependent yet also mutually wary of each other!

This brat is blatantly using His Majesty's prestige as a weapon!

Is there any law enforcement officer in the world more arrogant than him?

But believe it or not, it might actually work!

Sun Fujia gave Li Xiang a strange look: This kid does have some quick wit.

She's only fourteen!

A thought suddenly and uncontrollably arose in his mind:

If the crown prince hadn't been deposed, and there was such a grandson of the emperor who cared for the poor and could manipulate the powerful families...

Perhaps the Tang Dynasty could bring prosperity to three generations?